Office of Community
Oriented Policing Services
U.S. Department of Justice

For Immediate Release
October 1, 2003

COPS OFFICE ANNOUNCES $4.9 MILLION TO INCREASE SCHOOL SAFETY IN 27 STATES

Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community
Oriented Policing Services (COPS) today announced $4.9 million in grants to 106
local law enforcement agencies to enhance school safety in 27 states. The grants
were awarded through COPS' Secure Our Schools program, which provides funds to
improve security at schools and on school grounds.

The Secure Our Schools program will provide up to 50 percent of the total
cost for municipalities to install metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other
equipment to help deter crime. The grants can also be used to pay half of the
cost of security assessments, security training, and other measures that will
provide a significant improvement in security.

"One of the greatest challenges that exist for America today is creating
safe schools for our youth to learn and develop," said COPS Director Carl
R. Peed. "Today's grants will enable local law enforcement agencies and
school districts to implement much needed safety enhancements. We are proud to
help communities reduce school-based crime and violence."

Secure Our Schools is one of several COPS initiatives to enhance school
safety. COPS has provided nearly $700 million to state and local law enforcement
agencies to hire and train over 6,100 school resource officers. COPS also
provides school safety training, and has published several technical assistance
guides to help law enforcement agencies effectively address specific school and
youth violence issues.

In addition, COPS supports innovative community policing initiatives, funds
the purchase of crime fighting technology, provides training and technical
assistance resources, and funds the hiring of local law enforcement officers.
Since 1995, COPS has invested $10.6 billion to advance community policing,
including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state and local law enforcement
agencies to hire over 118,000 officers.